Rue sur les Murs

The Rue sur les Murs, in La Rochelle

The Rue sur les Murs is the only vestige of the former ramparts of La Rochelle, a picturesque path perched on the crest of the wall, between the Tower of the Chaîne and the Tower of the Lanterne. The La Rochelle audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this street spared by Richelieu, one of the most photographed of the town, lined with houses with white stones.

The last rampart spared by Richelieu

The only vestige of the ramparts of the town, the Rue sur les Murs was spared by Richelieu, who chose not to destroy this part of the fortifications. Not, you suspect, because it is one of the finest walks of La Rochelle, but because it represented a strategic asset to watch the English and the sea. You must remember that in 1628, after the famous siege of the Protestant town, Richelieu had almost all the ramparts of La Rochelle razed, to break the resistance of the rebel town and to prevent it from defending itself in the future; only this portion was kept, for its military usefulness. The Rue sur les Murs allows to link the Tower of the Chaîne to the Tower of the Lanterne, through this narrow path that formerly ran directly along the ocean, perched on the crest of the old rampart. Lined with houses with white stones typical of the town, it offers a picturesque setting and an atmosphere out of time, that make it one of the most photographed streets of La Rochelle. Today, it is no longer the ocean that lines the rampart on this side, for the water has withdrawn over the developments; it remains no less a charming walk, between military history and maritime beauty. From the path, the view plunges over the port and the towers. A vestige of the ramparts and a picturesque walk, the Rue sur les Murs is a fine stop of the discovery of La Rochelle.

What to see

Here you discover the only vestige of the ramparts of La Rochelle, spared by Richelieu in 1628 for its strategic value while he had the rest of the fortifications razed; perched on the crest of the old wall, this narrow path links the Tower of the Chaîne to the Tower of the Lanterne, lined with houses with white stones, and counts among the most photographed streets of the town. The Rue sur les Murs is a picturesque walk of La Rochelle. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Rue sur les Murs lies between the Tower of the Chaîne and the Tower of the Lanterne, along the old rampart of La Rochelle, reachable on foot. It is a pedestrian street freely accessible, narrow and picturesque, one of the most photographed of the town. You walk along it during a stroll between the towers.

Why was the Rue sur les Murs of La Rochelle spared?

Because Richelieu, after the siege of 1628, had almost all the ramparts of the Protestant town razed, but kept this portion for its strategic value, useful to watch the English and the sea; the only vestige of the fortifications, perched on the crest of the old wall, it links the Tower of the Chaîne to the Tower of the Lanterne.

Where is the Rue sur les Murs in La Rochelle?

Between the Tower of the Chaîne and the Tower of the Lanterne, along the old rampart of La Rochelle, in France.